1999 6hp Johnson - not getting fuel?

[Fishing Phool]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 6hp Johnson, that I'm having trouble with. I bought it last August, and ran it only a little before winter. I probably put 10 minutes on it in October. It seemed to run fine. I went to start it the other day, and the plugs were fouled, so I got some new ones. I took the air filter off, and squirted some carb cleaner in, pulled the cord. It started and then promptly died. I tried it again and again, same effect. Sqirt carb cleaner in, pull, start, run for 5 seconds, die. I think that no fuel is getting to it, so my hunch is to replace the fuel pump. Does that sound like a reasonable approach? Is there anything else I should try to help diagnose it?

Thanks

[nwcove]

the first thing you should do is ....not use carb cleaner/starting fluid to start a two stroke. then start at the fuel tank, check all the lines for cracks, bad clamps etc etc.

[BonairII]

Pull the carb and clean the absolute heck out of it. Run a strand of wire through every little hole orifice. Pull the jets and inspect and clean them.

If you suspect the pump(which is prob ok), just unhook the fuel pump outlet hose(point it away from the motor) and turn the motor over....and watch the fuel spurt out.

Don't use starter fluid....put premix gas in a spray bottle and spray it in the carbs.

[Fishing Phool]

Thanks guys. More quetions.

Can you clarify strand of wire? Also, can you explain why not to use carb cleaner/starter fluid? I'm new to two strokes. Also, I'm a little afraid of taking the carb apart, in that I'll screw something up putting it back together. I also have never really dinked with setting up the carberation, and it seems tricky. Is there a resource somewhere tha I can use to help me set it up correctly after I tear it apart?

[BonairII]

Thanks guys. More quetions.

Can you clarify strand of wire? Also, can you explain why not to use carb cleaner/starter fluid? I'm new to two strokes. Also, I'm a little afraid of taking the carb apart, in that I'll screw something up putting it back together. I also have never really dinked with setting up the carberation, and it seems tricky. Is there a resource somewhere tha I can use to help me set it up correctly after I tear it apart?

Starter fluid does have oil in it so you're starving the cylinders of oil.

I use a twist-tie and strip of the paper off it. When you pull your jets/tubes out of the carb they will have very small holes in them(look carefully for them). Run the wire in the holes to dislodge any debris. There may also be small holes in the throat of the carb, run wire in them also.

Carbs are somewhat simple. just take it apart on a clean surface and put parts down in the order that you took them out.

Buy a service manual for your motor. Best money you'll spend.

[Fishing Phool]

If I take the carb apart, do I need a gasket kit?

[AlTn]

as BonairII stated an OMC Factory manual would be the first place to begin...your 1999 model isn't the simpliest carb to get right...you'll need a carb rebuild kit at a minimum..manuals can be found on ebay, outboardbooks.com., iboats as well may have them. If this is your first venture into this, you won't regret having one. The model number of your engine will be required when ordering parts as well.

[Fishing Phool]

Ok. I got my factory manual from marineengine.com and wasn't completely satisfied with it. It was a grainy photocopy of a real factory manual.

Anyway. Thanks for all of the adivce. I got my rebuild kit, and carefully disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled my carb. Followed the link and sinc instructions to the best of my ablility, and the motor actually started and ran. When disassembling the carb, I noticed that one of the screws in the top plate was about 1/2 way unscrewed, causing the top plate to peal up, and the gasket not to seal. I think it was sucking air where it was supposed to be sucking fuel.

One question - how do you guys measure RPM's on motor while doing the link and sink. All I could do was listen to the motor and guess when it was about right.

[AlTn]

an induction timing light with a tach feature..or a product Tiny Tach < google it >....but in reality, engine warm, in forward pushing the boat in the water, and setting the idle sufficent enough not to stall does as well on the smaller engines